Coronavirus highlights road transport industry’s key role
THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK HAS highlighted the key role trucks and the road transport industry play for all New Zealanders as producers and consumers.
China’s shutdowns to control coronavirus have impacted NZ trucking companies that carry exports like logs and meat to ports, and Chinese imports to NZ warehouses and retailers.
All goods sold in NZ are delivered by truck at some point on its journey to the consumer – and usually there are multiple truck trips.
By our reckoning it takes 30 truck deliveries to make a ham, cheese and tomato sandwich ( see the accompanying infographic). This simple example illustrates that any factor – such as coronavirus – that substantially affects NZ industries, will effect road transport and vice-versa.
If tourism is down, this effects the trips to service this sector, including restaurants and hotels. If agriculture is down, this effects road transport to ports from farms and to the providers of all the supplies farms need for primary produce.
The coronavirus has meant many Chinese factories are closed and therefore not taking goods, nor producing goods.
A number of forestry operations stopped logging because China was not receiving logs and meatworks reduced kills for the China market.
There are also limited goods coming out of China, so the number of containers with goods destined for NZ shop shelves is down.
All these factors reduce the number of road transport movements. Our concern is that the economic downturn caused by coronavirus does not have a lasting effect on NZ’s road transport companies.
We are advising our members to do all they can to keep their company infrastructure in place.
There are a number of steps trucking companies can consider to manage the situation and soften the blow, including:
• Ask staff if they are willing to use leave • Reduce hours down to four days, as
some have already
• Use the time to carry out vehicle maintenance
If struggling or worried, talk to partners, friends, other operators or National Road Carriers
• Talk to their banks so they know what’s happening and can assist with finances The coronavirus outbreak has raised awareness of the need for personal hygiene measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
We have sent all National Road Carriers members a two-page coronavirus advisory circular from our health and safety partner Safe Business Solutions. The circular provides guidance on preventive health practices, business planning and continuity in the unlikely event of a widespread outbreak in NZ.
Safe Business Solutions points out that an outbr eak in NZ means businesses need to pr epare for: • Protecting workers and reducing the spread of the virus in the workplace
• High numbers of wor kers away due to illness or caring for dependents
• National and international trav el restrictions
• Restrictions on public gatherings
• Closure of schools
• Disruptions of supply to essential goods and services • Alternative work practices workplace – for example social distancing measures, remote working capability
We need trucking companies to come through this disease outbreak in the best shape possible so they can r esume their businesses when we return to normal, and continue the vital r ole they play for all NZ ers. T&D
•